Planters with a Purpose, the Mathews Community Gardeners group, hosted Dr. Chris Catanzaro as guest speaker at its Feb. 22 meeting at the Virginia Cooperative Extension office.

“We were so fortunate to have Dr. Chris speak with our group given his extensive background and accomplishments in horticultural sciences,” said Extension Agent Rachael Morris. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Missouri, a master’s in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from The University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University.Catanzaro worked in the 1890 land grant university system for 26 years, including 13 years in the Agriculture Department at Virginia State University, where he taught more than 20 undergraduate and graduate courses and was Associate Professor and Chair.

Members were treated to a lively discussion of gardening basics, as well as that a demonstration of the proper techniques of pruning. The p...